Manchester City will face holders Bayern Munich in the group phase of the UEFA Champions League, while Arsenal have been drawn alongside last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund, and Celtic have been handed a mouth-watering group.

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The Blues knocked out both Basel and Steaua en route to winning last season's Europa League, and also met Schalke in the group phase in 2007/08.

Group B serves up the tantalising prospect of two games between Real Madrid and Juventus, with Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen also in that section.

Last season's Europa League runners-up Benfica were the top seeds in Group C and they will face Paris St Germain, Olympiakos and Anderlecht.

In Group G, 2004 European champions Porto will take on 2010 and 2012 Europa League winners Atletico Madrid, 2008 UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg and Austria Vienna.

Celtic, who clinched their place in the draw after a dramatic play-off comeback against Shakhter Karagandy, memorably beat Barcelona at Parkhead in last season's group stage last November with a dramatic late goal from Tony Watt.

Milan and Ajax add further glamour to the group, and the four clubs between them have won 16 European titles.

"In terms of glamour I don't think it comes any better than Barcelona, Ajax and AC Milan. In terms of football it is probably the most difficult group we could have got.

"But I think the hard work was really done last night [against Shakhter] and we can go and enjoy the tournament now."

Barcelona star Lionel Messi is looking forward to facing Celtic and Milan again after his side were thrashed by Bayern in the semi-finals last season.

Messi said: "You don't get any easy groups in the Champions League. We played Milan and Celtic last season. It's a beautiful group."

Milan official Umberto Gandini said: "Before the draw, I was close to Barcelona president Rosell. He said that it be Barcelona-Milan again, and so it is.

"It is a well-known group, with prestigious stadia, historical ones, with teams who have already won the Champions League."

Arsenal, who have reached this stage of the competition for 16 successive seasons, also played Dortmund in their group two years ago.

On that occasion Dortmund finished bottom of the section but the Germans are now a much tougher proposition and impressed throughout their run to the final last year.

Napoli's sporting director Riccardo Bigon told Sky Italia: "In this tournament, there are incredible clubs. We are in a really complicated group, but our aim is to overcome this group."

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain insisted after the draw that he was upbeat about his side's chances of advancing from Group D, but admitted CSKA Moscow would be competitive along with favourites Bayern Munich.

"We have improved the team, we have a new manager with a lot of experience in the Champions League and we hope we will be stronger in the Champions League."

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain

He said: "They (CSKA) are the champions of the Russia league and are doing well. They have a good team with some good players and it will be difficult, but we have a lot of confidence this season.

"We have improved the team, we have a new manager with a lot of experience in the Champions League and we hope we will be stronger in the Champions League."

Manchester United secretary John Alexander was also in buoyant mood after David Moyes learned his opponents for his debut campaign in the Champions League group stage.

"It's not a bad draw for your first group stage with Manchester United," said Alexander. "It is very interesting with the German and Spanish sides in there.

"I guess they would be quite tough opposition from pots three and four, and Shakhtar Donetsk is an interesting trip for anybody at any time of the year.